BILL REQ. #:  Z-0738.1 

Read first time 03/11/09.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
     THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article XXIII, section 1 of the Constitution of the state of Washington to read as follows:

     Article XXIII, section 1. Any amendment or amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in either branch of the legislature; and if the same shall be agreed to by two-thirds of the members elected to each of the two houses, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their journals, with the ayes and noes thereon, and be submitted to the qualified electors of the state for their approval, at the next general election; and if the people approve and ratify such amendment or amendments, by a majority of the electors voting thereon, the same shall become part of this Constitution, and proclamation thereof shall be made by the governor: Provided, That if more than one amendment be submitted, they shall be submitted in such a manner that the people may vote for or against such amendments separately. The legislature shall also cause notice of the amendments that are to be submitted to the people, with arguments for and against the amendments, to be ((published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state)) provided in a publication sent to each place of residence in the state and in other means reasonably anticipated to provide each voter with an opportunity to study the amendments prior to the election: Provided, That failure ((of any newspaper)) to publish this notice shall not be interpreted as affecting the outcome of the election.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.